2. Write sentences with ‘I wish’.

Model: It’s raining very hard.  I wish it weren’t raining so hard.

1. We haven’t time to stop.

2. John didn’t pass the exam.

3. It’s very cold in here.

4. There’s no time to spare.

5. George won’t help.

6. Mary didn’t come.

7. I didn’t see the match last week.

8. I can’t give up smoking.

9. Tina can’t come to the party.

10. She doesn’t know anything about cars.

11. I’m not lying on a sunny beach.

12. I hate having to do homework every night.

13. I decided to work in London.

14. We sold the house we had in Manchester.

15. We didn’t realize that a supermarket was opening nearby.

16. We put our money into a grocery shop.

17. We borrowed $3.000 to start the business.

18. It was a mistake to leave Manchester.

3. Imagine that you are in these situations. For each situation write a sentence with ‘I wish’.

Model: You’ve eaten too much and now you feel sick.

You say I wish I hadn’t eaten so much.

1. There was a job advertised in the newspaper. You decided not to apply for it. Now you think that your decision was wrong.

You say: I wish I ____ .

2. When you were younger, you didn’t learn to play a musical instrument. Now you regret this.

You say: ____ .

3. You’ve painted the gate red. Now you think that it doesn’t look very nice.

You say: ____ .

4. You have some unexpected guests. They didn’t tell you they were coming. You are very busy and you are not prepared for them.

You say (to yourself): ____ .

5. You are walking in the country. You would like to take some photographs but you didn’t bring your camera.

You say: ____ .

4. Express wishes and regrets about these situations. Refer to yourself where possible.

Model: You’re not very fit. I wish/If only/I was/were fit/fitter!

1. It’s very hot today.

2. It’s raining.

3. You were too impatient.

4. You wasted a lot of time watching TV.

5. John didn’t take your advice.

6. We didn’t lock the back door!

7. Jane has read your letter.

8. He is abroad.

9. They don’t have a lot of friends.

5. Complain about the present situation and express your wish about some future actions. Begin your sentences with ‘if only’ or ‘I wish’.

Model: You don’t expect your headache to go away.

I wish my headache would go away. (If only my headache went away)

1. You don’t expect the weather to clear up.

2. You don’t expect the Rescue Services to arrive soon.

3. Some economists don’t expect tight monetary and fiscal policies to keep inflation under control.

4. You don’t expect this company despite of its small financial backing to be the first to crack.

5. You don’t expect your wife to be promoted soon.

6. You don’t expect your boss to think of this possibility for you.

7. You don’t expect Steve to be more careful.

6. Read a situation and then write a sentence with ‘I wish ... Would’ .... .

Model: It’s raining. You want to go out, but not in the rain. So you want it to stop raining. What did you say? I wish it would stop raining.

1. You’re waiting for Tom. He’s late and you’re getting impatient. You want him to come. What do you say?

I wish ___

2. A baby is crying and you’re trying to sleep. You want the baby to stop crying. What do you say?

I wish ___

3. You’re looking for a job – so far without success. You want somebody to give you a job. What do you say?

I wish somebody ___

4. Brian has been wearing the same old clothes for years. You think he needs some new clothes and you want him to buy some. What do you say to him?

I wish ___

5. Tom drives very fast. You don’t like this. What do you say to him?

I wish ___

6. A lot of people drop litter in the street. You don’t like this. What do you say?

I wish ___

7. Jack always leaves the door open. You don’t like this. What do you say to him?

I wish ____